First
went to sea in the Royal Navy, aged 13, in the Frigate Alarm,
commanded by Captain Jervis, succeeded by Captain Scott.
This was the flagship of Sir Peter Parker at Portsmouth.

1775

Proceeded
to the American station, under Commodore Shuldham.

1776

Jan 28th

Promoted
to rank of Lieutenant in the Brig Gaspee.

Returned
to England; joined the Lord Howe under Captain
Pringle.

1777

Served
as Fourth Lieutenant on the Foudroyant under
Captain Jervis, in Admiral Keppel's engagement off
Ushant.

Served
on the Sandwich, the flagship of Admiral Sir
George Rodney, at Gibraltar. Present at the capture of
the Caracas fleet and the defeat of Langara.

1780

Feb 1st

Promoted
to rank of Post Captain by Admiral Rodney, and placed in
charge of the prize vessel Guipuscoa, later
renamed Prince William. Returned to England.

1782

Jan

Commanded
the 28-gun ship Eurydice in the West Indies,
serving as the repeating frigate (relaying the admiral's
instructions) for Admiral Sir Samuel Hood in action
against the French fleet under Count de Grasse (St
Christopher's Island).

April 9-12

Served
under Admiral Rodney in the Battle of St Lucia in which
Count de Grasse was defeated and captured. Advanced by
Admiral Rodney to command the 74-gun ship Fame.
Served off San Domingo with Admiral Hood. Continued on
the Leeward Island station until after the end of the
American War.

1790

Trouble
with Spain and Russia: appointed to the 36-gun frigate Inconstant.

1791

His
frigate put out of commission on settlement of the
disputes with the courts of St Petersburg and Madrid. [Newspaper account]

1793

War
with France. Commanded the 74-gun ship Bellona
in the Channel Fleet under Admiral Howe. Served in the
East and West Convoys under Admiral Montagu.

1794

Oct 13th

Sailed
from Plymouth to the West Indies in company with Vice
Admiral Caldwell.

Nov 14th

Arrived
in Martinique.

1795

Jan 5th

In
action against the French. Captured the 44-gun frigate Duquesne,
and several enemy privateers. Took part in the capture of
Trinidad under Rear Admiral Harvey and Lieut General Sir
Ralph Abercrombie. Was present at the unsuccessful attack
on Puerto Rico by the same commanders.

1797

Returned
to England, attached to the Channel Fleet. Bellona
was paid off, and retired as a Captain from active
service.

1799

Feb 14th

Promoted
to Rear Admiral of the White Squadron.

Aug

Inherited
the Redgrave Estate from Thomas Holt.

1801

Jan 1st

Rear Admiral
of the Red Squadron.

Aug 22nd

Married
Catherine Pollard, daughter of John Pollard of
Ewell
Grove,
Surrey.

'The Line of Defence before
Copenhagen'
(from an engraving of Admiral Nelson's blockade, 1801)

1804

Jan 16

Birth of his
eldest daughter Mary Lucinda (but she died in March).

April 23rd

Vice Admiral
of the Blue.

1805

Nov 9th

Vice Admiral
of the Red.

1806

Oct 26th

Birth of his
eldest son George St. Vincent (named after the Battle of
Cape St Vincent).

1807

Dec 3rd

Birth of his
second son Thomas Daniel.

1809

May 22nd

Birth of second daughter Susan
Mary.

Oct 25th

Admiral of the Blue.

1810

Jun 20th

Birth of third son
Charles John.

Jul 31st

Admiral of the White.

1812

Apr 10th

Birth of 4th son John Wood (named after
Sir George Adam Wood, commander of the Royal Artillery at Waterloo)